The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the dates for the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Telangana.
The elections to the Chhattisgarh legislative assembly will be held in two phases, in the first stage, elections will be held in 18 assembly constituencies on November 12. In the second phase, the election in 72 constituencies will be held on November 20. The elections in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram will be held on November 28. Meanwhile, in Rajasthan and Telangana will go to polls on December 7 in a single phase.
Simultaneous elections will be held in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram, before 15th December: CEC OP Rawat in Delhi pic.twitter.com/vBF3RVR0pO
— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2018
With the announcement of polls, the model code of conduct has been enforced immediately in all the five states. The Chief Election Commission has said that the counting of votes in all five states will be held on December 11, 2018.
The Election Commission also said it will not conduct any by-polls for Lok Sabha seats, which fell vacant after some Member of Parliament from Andhra Pradesh had resigned. The CEC said, “Since there was less than 1 year left for vacancy no by-elections in Andhra Pradesh”. He said the ECI will conduct by-polls in Shimoga, Bellary and Mandya on November 3, which fell vacant as the members had contested and won Karnataka state elections
Andhra MPs resignations were accepted on June 4. Lok Sabha term expires on June 3; less than 1 year was left. Since there was less than 1 year left for vacancy no by-elections in Andhra Pradesh: CEC OP Rawat on by-polls in #AndhraPradesh after resignations of five YSRCP MPs. pic.twitter.com/CIWGT2efwH
— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2018
The elections to five state assemblies are considered to be crucial ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP and Congress are fighting neck to neck in these states with a slight advantage towards the BJP. A victory in these elections will be a big boost to both BJP and Congress ahead of the general elections.
